Mechanically induced phase transition in Fe4N during ball milling and shock compression of powders

Ball milling and shock compression were performed on Fe4N powders to study the mechanically induced phase transition in this material. Ball milling was performed in an argon environment with milling times under 50 h. The effect of temperature on the deformation process was minimized by dripping liquid nitrogen on to the sample container during milling. Shock compression was achieved by parallel plate impact at 860 m/s using a single stage gas gun. XRD analysis of the powders processed in both manners show the formation of an ɛ-Fe3N type structure.